Gramophone or phonograph.



UNITED STATES Patented May 5, 1903.

PATENT OFFIC GRAMOPHONE OR PHONOGRAPH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 726,937, dated May 5, 1903.

Application filed August 13,1902. Serial No. 119,539. (No model.)

To aZZ whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HENRY J ONES and ROBERT L. GIBSON, of the cityand county of Philadelphia and State of Pen nsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Gramophones and Phonographs, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention has reference to improvements in gramophones and phonographs; and it consists of certain improvements, which are fully set forth in the following specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

Heretofore it has been customary in gramophone instruments to support the reproducer and horn upon an arm universally pivoted, so as to enable the style of the reproducer to follow the grooves of the record-tablet and at the same-time to provide great freedom of adjustment to enable the arm to be readily handled when removing the reproducer from the record-tablet or when placing it in operative position. In the construction heretofore employed in instruments of this class considerable difficulty has arisen from the fact that the character of universal joint between the swinging arm aud its support has rendered it liable to interference with the free movement of the arm and the reproducer, which in some instances produces such a resistance as to force the style of the reproducer to jump from one groove into the next, with the result of not only interfering with the reproduction of sound, but also of damaging the record-tablet, so that it is liable to cause a repetition of this same defect in the action of the reproducer whenthe style again reaches the same place inthe grooves. These defects have resulted largely from the fact that the pivot connections were of such a nature that fairly tight joints were necessary to obviate excessive loose play or rattling and that such tightness of the joints required considerable accuracy in fitting, which in numerous instances produced such binding as to create the defects pointed out'above. Any material resistance to the lateral swinging of the supporting-arm greatly interferes with the perfect articulation of the reproducer, and consequently in the instruments as above constructed the articulation has not been as perfect as it should be.

The object of our invention is to overcome the objections existingin this class of instrument, and this we accomplish by a form ofpivotfor the arm which while exceedingly strong and simple at the same time ofiers the least possible resistance to the movement of the arm and the reproducer under the influence of the grooves of the record-tablet. This results in the most perfect reproduction since it gives the record-grooves every opportunity to properly act upon the reproducerstyle for the purpose of reproducing the proper sounds or articulations and without excessive expenditure of energy in causing the swinging arm to move about its pivot connections. The result is not only far better articulation, but also greater life to the record-tablet.

In carrying out our invention in its preferred form we provide an upright stud at the proper distance from the record-tablet and combine therewith the universal jointed arm to which the reproducer and horn are attached, the pivotconnection between the stud and arm consisting, essentially, of a hole in the upper part of the arm adapted to receive the small upper end of the stud and rest upon a shoulder thereon and a lower longitudinal slotted portion which fits about the stud at a considerable distance below the upper pivotpoint and so as to act as a longitudinal guide to permit vertical motion of the free end of the arm and at the same time lateral swinging thereof about the small end of the stud on the pivot. From this construction it is seen that the usual double pivots customarily arranged at right angles to each other are dispensed with, and a single pivot with capacity for universal adjustment is employed in lieu thereof.

Our invention also comprehends details 0 construction, which, together with the abovementioned features, will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a gramophone instrument with a portion broken away and the-horn shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the supporting-arm and its pivot, the middle portion of the arm being broken away. Fig. 3 is a plan view of same, and Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the arm adjacent to the stud and showing the stud in elevation.

Ais the revolving disk of a gramophone instrument, and B is the case containing the usual clockwork for rotating the disk.

0 is the record tablet or disk removably clamped upon the revolving disk A.

G is a rigid arm bolted to the side of the case B and to the outer end of which is clamped the upright stud L. This'stud consists of a body part rounded at its upper end, as at Z, and terminating in an upright small bearing-pin M. It also has a bearing N, preferably of vulcanized fiber or other non-metal lic substance, encircling the stud and resting upon an enlarged part or shoulder 11 at the base. The stud is further provided with a shank O, which fits through a hole in the end of the fixed arm G and is clamped therein by means of a screw-threaded nut P. The stud is in this manner rigidly supported upon the end of the arm G.

E is the swinging arm and may be of any suitable material, but preferably of sheet metal. It is hinged to the stud L in the following manner: The upper edge of the arm at one end is bent transversely to form a lug J, having a hole j, which receives the pin M of the stud L. This lug J rests upon the rounded upper shoulderl of the stud and has its hole fitting with sufiieient looseness upon the pin M to permit the arm E to be rocked in a vertical plane. The roundness of the shoulder Z also permits of this motion to the arm. The lower part of the arm has its edge bent laterally to form a slotted lug K, the slot is therein being the proper size to receive the part N of the stud. The length of the slot is in the direction of the length of the arm and forms a guide upon the part N of the stud, and consequently permits the vertical movement of the free end of the arm and holds the arm against twisting in a transverse plane. Moreover, the combination between the stud and the lugs on the arm produces a universal joint F, which enables the free end of the arm to be raised and lowered freely and at the same time permits the entirearm to swing about the stud as a center. The motion of the arm is produced with the least possible resistance, since the points of contact of the arm on the stud are exceedingly small and perform the dual function of pivoting the arm for both vertical and lateral motion at its free end. The arm may be strengthened by a longitudinal rib E stamped up in the metal, if so desired.

The free end of the arm E is provided with a circular clamp B, one end of which is attached to the arm by fitting into a slot e therein and being soldered in position and the other end of which is provided with an aperture through which the clamping-screw extends. The clamping-screw 5 passes through holes in the split portion of the clamp. The free end of this screw .9 screws into a clamping-nut S, and the head T rests upon the under surface of the end 7' of the clamp and prevents the screw from turning. In this manner the cylindrical neck of the reproducer D is clamped in position upon the arm E, as indicated in Fig. land in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

I indicates the horn, which is connected at the small end with the tubular neck of the reproducer and is supported adjacent to the pivot of the arm E by a curved-wire bracket H, clamped to the arm E and of the usual-construction.

While we prefer to make the arm E of metal, it is quite evident that the same may be formed of wood, if so desired, the lugs J and K in that case being attached in any suitable manner, the particular material of which our improvements are constructed being immaterial. The vulcanized fiber or non-metallic sleeve N upon the stud is designed to avoid any metallic rattle between the lugs K and the stud; but it is evident that this part of the stud may be of metal or any other material found suitable.

The ends of the slot act aslimit-stops for the vertical adjustment of the free end of the arm E. This is important, as when the record-tablet G is being changed it is customary to turn the arm E of the reproducer to one side and let it swing in the air, in which case it is held suspended by the end of the slot 70 resting in contact with the stud.

The important feature of our invention is in having the parts J M and K N at difierent elevations and above one another, whereby the pin M and the shoulder Z act to support the arm and definitely locate the axis about which it swings, and the parts K and N hold the arm in proper position and prevent it twisting, the relative levels or vertical ,positions of these parts being immaterial, so long as they are sufficiently separated to secure the proper results.

\Vhile we prefer the construction shown, the details thereof may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A supportingarm for the reproducer of a sound-reproducing machine having at its pivoted end transverse part-s arranged one above the other and the upper part of which is provided with a hole approximately circular and the lower of which is provided with a slot extending in the directionof the length of the arm, in combination with-a fixed stud having at its top a projecting pin adapted to the hole in the arm and a shoulder upon which the transverse part rests to sustain the arm vertically and the lower part of which stud is cylindrical and adapted to fit the slot of the lower transverse part of the arm.

2. A supporting-arm for the reproducer of a sound-reproducing machine having at its pivoted end transverse parts arranged one above the other and the upper part of which is provided with a hole approximately circular and the lower of which is provided with a slot extending in the direction of the length of the arm, in combination with a fixed stud having at its top a projecting pin adapted to the hole in the arm and a shoulder upon which the transverse part rests to sustain the arm vertically and the lower part of which stud is cylindrical and formed of non-metallic substance and adapted to fit the slot of the lower transverse part of the arm.

3. A supporting-arm .for the reproducer of a sound-reproducing machine having at its pivoted end transverse parts arranged one above the other and the upper part of which is provided with a hole approximately circular and the lower of which is provided with a slot extending in the direction of the length of the arm, in combination with a fixed stud having at its top a projecting pin adapted to the hole in the arm and a shoulder curved or ball-shaped upon which the transverse part rests to sustain the arm vertically and the lower part of which stud is cylindrical and adapted to fit the slot of the lower transverse part of the arm.

4. A supporting-arm for the reproducer of a sound-reproducing machine having its pivoted end formed of a'metallic plate provided with two laterally-projecting lugs at different elevations one of which is provided with a small aperture of approximately circular shape and the other of which is provided with an elongated aperture or slot, in combination with rigid bearings one of which consists of an upright pin and shoulder adapted to the lug having the circular hole and the other of which is a cylindrical part adapted to the elongated aperture or slot whereby the arm is universally jointed so as to be able to swing vertically and laterally at its free end.

5. A supporting-arm for the reproducer of a sound-reproducing machine having itspivoted end formed of a metallic plate provided with two laterally-projecting lugs at different elevations one of which is provided with a small aperture of approximately circular shape and the other of which is provided with an elongated aperture or slot, in combination with rigid bearings one of which consists of an upright pin and a curved or ballshaped shoulder adapted to thelug having the circular hole and the other of which is a cylindrical part adapted to the elongated aperture or slot whereby the arm is universally jointed so as to be able to swing vertically and laterally at its free end.

6. A supporting-arm for the reproducer of a sound-reproducing machine having its pivoted end formed of a metallic plate pro vided with two laterally-projecting lugs at different elevations one of which is provided with a small aperture of approximately circular shape and the other of which is provided with an elongated aperture or slot in combination with rigid bearings one of which consists of an upright pin and shoulder adapted to the lug having the circular hole and a cylindrical part of non-metallic substance adapted to the elongated aperture or slot whereby the arm is universally jointed so as to be able to swing vertically and laterally at its free end.

7. A clamping device of a supporting-arm for the reproducer of a sound-reproducing ma chine formed of a looped metallic band having one end secured to the arm and the other end free, combined with a screw extending through the end portions of the band and having an angular head resting against a shoul der on one of the end portions to hold it against turning, and an adjusting-socket nut screwed upon the screw and resting against the other end portion of the band and having an outwardly-extending head adapted to be grasped by the hand and free to turn on the band for drawing the two ends of the band together.

8. A universally-jointed arm for a repro ducing-machine formed of sheet metal having its free end made with a transverse slot e and provided with a clamping-band R having one end fitted into the slot of the arm and'the.

other end free, a clamping-screw for adj ust-' ing the free end of the clamp to or from the end which is secured in the slot of the arm, and'a hand-nut screwed upon the screw and resting upon the end of the clamp which is secured to the arm.

In testimony of which invention we have hereunto set our hands.

HENRY JONES. 7 ROBERT L. GIBSON. Witnesses:

R. M. KELLY, R. M. HUNTER, 

